UNITED STATES - Like many aspects of our lives, traditions have taken on a new shape in recent years. Some have withstood the test of time, while others have moved and changed with us, and if there is anything I took away from the following industry friends—both are a wonderful way to mark the holiday season.

Carrie Mack, Senior Sourcing Manager, Apples and Pears, Walmart

“I am not much of a traditionalist; I started surprising the kids (grown adults) with an untraditional Christmas dinner. I get them all worked up, teasing them with all these crazy things they don’t like weeks in advance. It’s fun; they don’t know what they are going to have until they show up. It could be Mexican, Italian, or Asian themed. One year, I made a favorite for each kid, so a total hodgepodge. Tater-tot casserole to enchiladas—who knows!”

Scott Ross, Senior Sales and Business Development Manager, Dole

“With two grown daughters, the best part of Christmas is that, no matter where they are, they come home for the holidays. I also love to play music, so it has become a fun tradition to find the oddest or least-known music (no Mariah Carey for us!) to play for the holidays, which is really fun. And we’ve transitioned to more experiential gifts, like vacations or plans to do something fun as a family, even locally, which took away the aspect of Christmas I was never a big fan of—the pressure and bustle of gift buying! Now we get to enjoy being together, and, of course, all the food! Our traditions have changed, and I appreciate how they can mature and shift as we do.”

Melinda Goodman, President, FullTilt Marketing

“Some of my favorite holiday time is spent decorating my home for Christmas and then inviting friends and neighbors for special dinners. Christmas is a magical time filled with memories, and my holiday ornaments and decorations are part of those memories. Some go back 40, 60, or 80-plus years, and it is special to take them out and remember the people and places they are connected to.”

Dante Galeazzi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Texas International Produce Association

“One of our favorite family traditions is the Elf on the Shelf. It’s fun for my wife and me to hide the elf and see our kids search for him every morning. Their faces light up when they find him and report back to us—it really does start the holiday season for our home.”

Cindy Jewell, Founder, SCJewell

“While we all love Thanksgiving, it’s really just the beginning of the holiday season. Now is the time we are all frantically shopping, decorating, and baking. My favorite part of the season is hosting holiday parties, and being in this industry has taught me that fresh produce always gets a seat at the table. Decorating Charcuterie Boards and appetizer platters with fresh berries, apples, and pears make a huge difference. I love that Bobalu strawberries are now year-round, so we can benefit from the natural sweet flavor and those perfect red and green colors.”

Stay tuned for more holiday fun as we prepare to bid farewell to 2022 and welcome the possibilities of 2023.